Registering on Liuli Island

Registering on Liuli Island

While Li Fan was lost in thought, a somewhat plump young man nearby sidled over.

The young man patted Li Fan on the shoulder, acting rather familiar. "Brother, you look unfamiliar. What post do you hold in Great Li? Or are you a wealthy merchant from some continent?"

Li Fan slapped the young man's hand from his shoulder, then fixed him with a cold stare without saying a word.

The plump young man immediately felt as though a venomous snake had set its sights on him, chills rising down his back.

Though he felt it was somewhat embarrassing to be frightened by a single look, the plump young man had some discernment. Li Fan appeared utterly ordinary, yet there was a faint air of unruffled authority around him, clearly the bearing of someone who had occupied a high position for many years.

He was no simple man! The plump young man reached that conclusion in an instant, then wisely left.

Seeing this, the others realized that Li Fan was not very amiable, and no one came to strike up a conversation with him afterward.

As the lamplight flickered, the voices of the crowd grew softer and softer until everyone gradually fell asleep.

The night passed without incident.

Before dawn the next day, everyone was awakened.

A middle-aged man with a long beard, dressed in a green robe and standing with his hands behind his back, walked before the crowd.

"In a moment, I'll take you to receive your household registrations. Once you have them, you will officially become members of Liuli Island." The middle-aged man swept his gaze around and spoke coldly.

At his words, everyone showed excited expressions.

"Remember, do not say what should not be said. Otherwise, I cannot guarantee your safety." The man narrowed his eyes and added.

Everyone knew that what they were doing could not see the light of day, and they all nodded in agreement.

Afterward, at the middle-aged man's instruction, Li Fan and the others all changed into tattered clothes.

They were then taught a uniform story.

"You are all residents of Da Yu Island in the west. A Wind Calamity struck, destroying the island, so you fled here as refugees. If anyone asks, that is what you say."

Everyone readily agreed.

Then, led by the middle-aged man and watched by four or five burly men in black, the crowd left the cavern through a hidden passage and emerged onto the surface.

They twisted and turned through the city's residential district, circling around for who knew how long before finally arriving before a manor.

Li Fan noticed that although their group of several dozen was not small, most island residents merely glanced at them casually before losing interest, clearly long accustomed to such sights.

They did not enter through the manor's main gate. After the gate attendant went in to announce them, he soon returned and led the crowd through a side gate on the left into a grand hall.

The hall was quite spacious. Before Li Fan and the others arrived, two or three groups totaling more than a hundred people had already gathered there.

Even so, it did not seem crowded.

The middle-aged man signaled for everyone to wait patiently.

Very soon, it was Li Fan's group's turn.

"Steward Zhao!" the middle-aged man greeted him.

"These are all disaster victims here to register?" Steward Zhao looked to be in his fifties or sixties and somewhat aged, but his gaze was exceptionally sharp. After sweeping his eyes over the crowd, he said with a half-smile, "Sun Zhang, these disaster victims are all either wealthy or noble!"

Sun Zhang did not panic, merely sighing. "Indeed. They were all wealthy families on Da Yu Island before. Unfortunately, without an immortal master's protection, when the heavenly disaster descended, all their wealth and glory became bubbles. Now they can only travel thousands of miles to take refuge on our Liuli Island."

As he spoke, Sun Zhang drew an item from his robes and discreetly handed it to Steward Zhao.

Steward Zhao glanced at it and accepted it, then sighed as well. "The Wind Calamity raged a few days ago, and even Liuli Island was affected. The islands to the west suffered even more grievous losses. It is said that more than two hundred islands were razed to the ground, and who knew how many mortals' souls returned to the sea."

"Fortunately, the immortal masters were merciful and ordered us to aid the disaster victims. It is a good thing that your Heavenly Treasure Pavilion has been so attentive! Rest assured, I will truthfully report this to the Island Lord. When the immortal masters' rewards are issued, your share will certainly not be left out."

Sun Zhang was overjoyed upon hearing this and repeatedly offered flattering words.

As Steward Zhao listened, he processed the crowd's registration procedures.

Before long, it was Li Fan's turn. Steward Zhao glanced at Li Fan, and a trace of surprise appeared in his eyes.

"What is your name?" Steward Zhao asked.

"Li Fan," Li Fan answered truthfully.

"Come, drip a drop of your fresh blood onto this." Steward Zhao's Brush moved like a dragon and snake as he wrote the two characters Li Fan upon a rectangular object that seemed neither jade nor paper, then handed it over.

Li Fan bit his finger and let a drop of blood fall.

The blood then seemed to gain a spirit of its own, burrowing into the two characters Li Fan.

"Keep this spirit talisman safe. From now on, it will serve as your proof of identity. You must present this spirit talisman for all matters large and small on the island, such as receiving work, collecting food rations, and undergoing inspections. You must not lose it." Unlike with the others, Steward Zhao was clearly much friendlier toward Li Fan and gave him an extra reminder.

This caused Sun Zhang and the rest to cast sidelong glances.

Uncertain what Steward Zhao had seen, Li Fan did not offer any words of thanks. After nodding, he put away the spirit talisman and walked straight to one side.

The household registration process was highly efficient. Before long, everyone in the group had received Liuli Island household registrations.

Everyone looked exceedingly excited.

After leaving this place, they did not return to the previous cavern. Instead, Sun Zhang led them into the courtyard of a residence.

"Now that the household registrations are in hand, the Covenant Scroll can be signed, yes?" Sun Zhang said to Su Changyu among the crowd.

Su Changyu carefully took a thin sheet of paper from his robes, then bit his finger and solemnly wrote his name in blood.

The moment he finished signing, the thin paper ignited without fire and turned into a wisp of green smoke that drifted off to parts unknown.

After it burned, only a tiny remnant of the Covenant Scroll remained.

"As the saying goes, three covenants bring it to an end. Once we have settled down completely in the future, I will sign the final covenant as agreed." Su Changyu spoke neither humbly nor arrogantly.

"Hmph, dealing with you people from the Departed Realm is nothing but trouble. If not for... the immortal masters' sake, our Heavenly Treasure Pavilion would never do such a losing business." Sun Zhang snorted, somewhat dissatisfied.

However, he said nothing further and instead began explaining the matters everyone would need to heed on the island.

"Any Liuli Island resident may use their household registration spirit talisman to claim a residence. Though it will only be in the remote outskirts at the island's northernmost edge, at least you will have a place to shelter from wind and rain. Besides that, during your first year after registration, you may receive a certain amount of food for free each month. Of course, if you are used to delicacies from mountain and sea and cannot stomach this free relief grain, you may spend your own money to feast and drink on the island."

After Sun Zhang spoke at great length, his mouth was dry and his tongue parched. Just as he paused to rest, he suddenly heard Su Changyu ask,

"May I ask, if we wish to cultivate, what must we do?"

This was precisely what Li Fan cared about. He immediately pricked up his ears and listened closely.